HR: 09:30h
AN: ED11C-06
TI: A Teacher Research Experience: Immersion Into the World of Practicing Ocean Scientists
AU: * Payne, D L
EM: diana.payne@uconn.edu
AF: Connecticut Sea Grant / University of Connecticut, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton,
CT 06340 United States
AB:
Professional development standards for science teachers encourage opportunities for intellectual professional
growth, including participation in scientific research (NRC, 1996). Strategies to encourage the professional
growth of teachers of mathematics and science include partnerships with scientists and immersion into the
world of scientists and mathematicians (Loucks-Horsley, Love, Stiles, Mundry, & Hewson, 2003). A teacher
research experience (TRE) can often offer a sustained relationship with scientists over a prolonged period of
time.
Research experiences are not a new method of professional development (Dubner, 2000; Fraser-Abder &
Leonhardt, 1996; Melear, 1999; Raphael et al., 1999). Scientists serve as role models and "coaches" for
teachers Ð a practice which has been shown to dramatically increase the transfer of knowledge, skill and
application to the classroom (Joyce & Showers, 2002).
This study investigated if and how secondary teachers' beliefs about science, scientific research and science
teaching changed as a result of participation in a TRE. Six secondary science teachers participated in a 12
day research cruise. Teachers worked with scientists, the ships' crew and other teachers conducting research and designing lessons for use in the classroom. Surveys were administered pre and post TRE to teachers and their students. Additionally, teachers were interviewed before, during and after the research experience, and
following classroom observations before and after the research cruise. Teacher journals and emails, completed during the research cruise, were also analyzed. Results of the study highlight the use of authentic research
experiences to retain and renew science teachers, the impact of the teachers' experience on students, and
the successes and challenges of implementing a TRE during the academic year.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0830 Teacher training
DE: 0840 Evaluation and assessment
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2006 Fall Meeting